STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS - The University of the Incarnate Word men's basketball team will try and break a three game losing streak this Saturday as they hit the road to take on Tarleton State in a crucial Lone Star Conference matchup at Wisdom Gym with tip-off slated for 7 p.m.

The Cardinals (12-9) are currently on their longest losing streak of the year at three games.  UIW has a one game lead over Tarleton State (14-7) in the LSC, but a win by the Texans can put them in a tie for third place with just four games to go in the regular season. 
Despite scoring just 66.0 points per game during their three game losing streak, the Cardinals are still the top scoring offense in the league averaging 75.1 points per game.  On the opposite side of the ball, Tarleton State is the top-ranked defense in the league holding their opponents to just 58.3 points per game. 

Dionelle Rucker (San Antonio/New Life Academy) leads the Cardinals in scoring putting up 16.9 per contest including 19 points on Wednesday against Texas A&M-Commerce.  Denzel Livingston (Houston, TX / Waltrip) is looking for his seventh straight game in double figures.  Livingston is averaging 12.3 per game this season.  Anthony Horton (Clear Springs, TX / Campbell) was the big man against Tarleton State in the first matchup of the season.  Horton put up 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting including four three-pointers in the matchup on January 5th. 

Tarleton State was on a season-high six game winning streak before they fell to Texas A&M-Kingsville on Wednesday, 56-55.  The Texans have three players averaging in double figures led by Chuck Guy with 13.2 points, 4.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game.  Coleman Furst and De'Andre Upchurch are both averaging 10.7 points per game.  As a team the Texans are second in the LSC in blocks per game averaging 4.3.  

Tarleton State was dealt a 72-67 loss at Incarnate Word in their first meeting of the year in San Antonio.  The Texans were led by Chuck Guy who had 13 points and six rebounds in that game.  Saturday will be the 19th meeting between the two teams with UIW holding the series lead, 10-8.
####
pr13106smm